SC backs government on removing liquor vends from highways

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court backed the Central government’s policy directing states to remove liquor shops from national and state highways to curb drunk-driving, blamed for the high rate of fatality in road accidents.

The court slammed state governments for placing money generated from liquor licences over the life and security of citizens and ignoring the goal of prohibition mandated in the Constitution.

The top court, which was hearing petitions seeking its intervention to relocate liquor vends from national highways to places where they were not visible or easily accessible, will pass formal orders to this effect soon.

The Central government, through senior advocate Ashok Kumar Panda, said states had yet to implement apolicy decision in this regard taken in 2007.

The number of road fatalities stood at 1,47,000 last year, he said. Insurance paid in connection with the road fatalities was .`11,482 crore, he said, appearing for the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.

He added, the ministry had issued a circular in 2007 asking all states to desist from renewing liquor licences for outlets along highways and most states were yet to carry this out.